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Seahawks’ Sherman: Adderall use widespread in NFL

THE SPORTS XCHANGE

Wednesday, April 10, 2013
1:15:38 EDT PM

Seattle Seahawks' Richard Sherman (25) intercepts a pass meant for Arizona Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald (11), returning it for a touchdown during the second quarter of their NFL football game in Seattle, Washington, December 9, 2012. (REUTERS/Robert Sorbo)

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Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman says he isn’t the only NFL player who uses Adderall. In fact, he contends the prescription drug is so widely taken that the league should remove it from the banned substance list.

Sherman appealed a four-game suspension last year after testing positive for Adderall and won, arguing that errors were make in the sample collection process. In an interview with the Vancouver Sun on Tuesday, the All-Pro questioned why the NFL needs to even test for the drug.

“About half the league takes it and the league has to allow it,” Sherman said. “The league made a mistake in my case. Obviously, I didn’t do anything, but you have to go through a process to prove you didn’t do anything. There are still naysayers out there who don’t believe me. But I accept it.”

NFL players are allowed to use Adderall, which also is commonly prescribed for attention deficit disorder, only through a therapeutic-use exemption.

Sherman, 25, started all 16 regular-season games for the Seahawks in 2012 and had eight interceptions, 64 tackles and one sack.